Motilin homologs

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to polynucleotides, polypeptides and uses thereof for a novel CDNA sequence which has homology to motilin. Tissue distribution of the mRNA for the novel polypeptide is specific to the stomach, small intestine and pancreas. The present invention further includes agonists, antagonists, antibodies and host cells expressing the cDNA encoding the novel motilin homologs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many of the regulatory peptides that are important in maintaining nutritional homeostasis are found in the gastrointestinal environment. These peptides may be synthesized in the digestive system and act locally, but can also be identified in the brain as well. In addition, the reverse is also found, i.e., peptides are synthesized in the brain, but found to regulate cells in the gastrointestinal tract. This phenomena has been called the “brain-gut axis” and is important for signaling satiety, regulating body temperature and other physiological processes that require feedback between the brain and gut.

The gut peptide hormones include gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), motilin, somatostatin, pancreatic peptide (PP), substance P and neuropeptide Y (NPY), and use several different mechanisms of action. For example, gastrin, motilin and CCK function as endocrine- and neurocrine-type hormones. Others, such as gastrin and GIP, are thought to act exclusively in an endocrine fashion. Other modes of action include a combination of endocrine, neurocrine and paracrine action (somatostatin); exclusively neurocrine action (NPY); and a combination of neurocrine and paracrine actions (VIP and Substance P). Most of the gut hormone actions are mediated by membrane-bound receptors and activate second messenger systems. For a review of gut peptides see, Mulvihill et al., in Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, pp.551-570, 4th edition Greenspan F. S. and Baxter, J. D. editors., Appleton & Lange: Norwalk, Conn., 1994.

Many of these gut peptides are synthesized as inactive precursor molecules that require multiple peptide cleavages to be activated. The family known as the “glucagon-secretin” family which includes VIP, gastrin, secretin, motilin, glucagon and galanin exemplifies peptides regulated by multiple cleavages and post-translational modifications.

Motilin is a 22 amino acid peptide found in gut tissue of mammalian species (Domschke, W., Digestive Diseases 22(5):454-461, 1977). The DNA and amino acid sequences for porcine prepromotilin have been identified (U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,469). Motilin has been identified as a factor capable of increasing gastric motility, affecting the secretory function of the stomach by stimulating pepsin secretion (Brown et al., Canadian J. of Physiol. Pharmacol. 49:399-405, 1971), and recent evidence suggests a role in myoelectric regulation of stomach and small intestine. Cyclic increases of motilin have been correlated with phase III of the interdigestive myoelectric complex and the hunger contraction of the duodenum (Chey et al., in Gut Hormones, (eds.) Bloom, S. R., pp. 355-358, Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, 1978; Lee et al, Am. J. Digestive Diseases, 23:789-795, 1978; and Itoh et al., Am. J. Digestive Diseases, 23:929-935, 1978). Motilin and analogues of motilin have been demonstrated to produce contraction of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, but not other types of smooth muscle cells (Strunz et al., Gastroenterology 68:1485-1491, 1975).

The present invention is directed to a novel secreted protein with homology to motilin, found to be transcribed in the gastrointestinal system. The discovery of this novel peptide is important for further elucidation of the how the body maintains its nutritional homeostasis and development of therapeutics to intervene in those processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Within one aspect, the present invention provides an isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) polynucleotide molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 from nucleotide 70 to nucleotide 111; (b) allelic variants of (a); (c) polynucleotide molecules that encode a polypeptide that is at least 60% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid residue 24 to amino acid residue 37; and (d) degenerate nucleotide sequences of (a), (b) or (c).

Within another aspect, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 from residue 24 to residue 37; (b) allelic variants of (a); and (c) polypeptide molecules that are at least 60% identical to the amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid residue 24 to amino acid residue 37.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Prior to describing the present invention in detail, it may be helpful to define certain terms used herein:

The term “ortholog” (or “species homolog”) denotes a polypeptide or protein obtained from one species that has homology to an analogous polypeptide or protein from a different species.

The term “paralog” denotes a polypeptide or protein obtained from a given species that has homology to a distinct polypeptide or protein from that same species.

The term “allelic variant” denotes any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in phenotypic polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequence. The term allelic variant is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

The term “expression vector” denotes a DNA molecule, linear or circular, that comprises a segment encoding a polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that provide for its transcription. Such additional segments may include promoter and terminator sequences, and may optionally include one or more origins of replication, one or more selectable markers, an enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, and the like. Expression vectors are generally derived from plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain elements of both.

The term “isolated”, when applied to a polynucleotide molecule, denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural genetic milieu and is thus free of other extraneous or unwanted coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for use within genetically engineered protein production systems. Such isolated molecules are those that are separated from their natural environment and include cDNA and genomic clones. Isolated DNA molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with which they are ordinarily associated, but may include naturally occurring 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions such as promoters and terminators. The identification of associated regions will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan and Tijan, Nature 316:774-78, 1985). When applied to a protein, the term “isolated” indicates that the protein is found in a condition other than its native environment, such as apart from blood and animal tissue. In a preferred form, the isolated protein is substantially free of other proteins, particularly other proteins of animal origin. It is preferred to provide the protein in a highly purified form, i.e., greater than 95% pure, more preferably greater than 99% pure.

The term “operably linked”, when referring to DNA segments, denotes that the segments are arranged so that they function in concert for their intended purposes, e.g. transcription initiates in the promoter and proceeds through the coding segment to the terminator.

The term “polynucleotide” denotes a single- or double-stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases read from the 5′ to the 3′ end. Polynucleotides include RNA and DNA, and may be isolated from natural sources, synthesized in vitro, or prepared from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules.

The term “complements of polynucleotide molecules” denotes polynucleotide molecules having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence. For example, the sequence 5′ ATGCACGGG 3′ is complementary to 5′ CCCGTGCAT 3′.

The term “degenerate nucleotide sequence” denotes a sequence of nucleotides that includes one or more degenerate codons (as compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that encodes a polypeptide). Degenerate codons contain different triplets of nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residue (i.e., GAU and GAC triplets each encode Asp).

The term “promoter” denotes a portion of a gene containing DNA sequences that provide for the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription. Promoter sequences are commonly, but not always, found in the 5′ non-coding regions of genes.

The term “secretory signal sequence” denotes a DNA sequence that encodes a polypeptide (a “secretory peptide”) that, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized. The larger peptide is commonly cleaved to remove the secretory peptide during transit through the secretory pathway.

The term “receptor” denotes a cell-associated protein that binds to a bioactive molecule (i.e., a ligand) and mediates the effect of the ligand on the cell. Membrane-bound receptors are characterized by a multi-domain structure comprising an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular effector domain that is typically involved in signal transduction. Binding of ligand to receptor results in a conformational change in the receptor that causes an interaction between the effector domain and other molecule(s) in the cell. This interaction in turn leads to an alteration in the metabolism of the cell. Metabolic events that are linked to receptor-ligand interactions include gene transcription, phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, increases in cyclic AMP production, mobilization of cellular calcium, mobilization of membrane lipids, cell adhesion, hydrolysis of inositol lipids and hydrolysis of phospholipids. Most nuclear receptors also exhibit a multi-domain structure, including an amino-terminal, transactivating domain, a DNA binding domain and a ligand binding domain. In general, receptors can be membrane bound, cytosolic or nuclear; monomeric (e.g., thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, beta-adrenergic receptor) or multimeric (e.g., PDGF receptor, growth hormone receptor, IL-3 receptor, GM-CSF receptor, G-CSF receptor, erythropoietin receptor and IL-6 receptor).

The term “complement/anti-complement pair” denotes non-identical moieties that form a non-covalently associated, stable pair under appropriate conditions. For instance, biotin and avidin (or streptavidin) are prototypical members of a complement/anti-complement pair. Other exemplary complement/anti-complement pairs include receptor/ligand pairs, antibody/antigen (or hapten or epitope) pairs, sense/antisense polynucleotide pairs, and the like. Where subsequent dissociation of the complement/anti-complement pair is desirable, the complement/anti-complement pair preferably has a binding affinity of <10⁹ M⁻¹.

The present invention is based in part upon the discovery of a novel human DNA sequence that encodes a novel secreted polypeptide having homology to motilin, of which the closest homolog is porcine motilin (shown in SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4). Motilin is member of a family of polypeptides that regulate the gastrointestinal physiology. The family of polypeptides important in gastrointestinal regulation to which motilin belongs includes glucagon, gastrin, galanin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These polypeptides are synthesized in a precursor form that requires multiple steps of processing to the active form. Particularly relevant to the polypeptide of the present invention are motilin, VIP and galanin, where processing involves removal of signal sequence, followed by cleavage of one or more accessory peptides to release the active peptide. The resulting active peptide is generally small (10-30 amino acids) and may require further post-translational modifications, such as amidation, sulfation or pyrrolidan carbonylic acid modification of glutamic residues.

Analysis of the tissue distribution of the mRNA corresponding to this novel DNA showed that expression was highest in stomach, followed by apparent but decreased expression levels in small intestine and pancreas. The EST is also present in lung cDNA libraries. The polypeptide has been designated zsig33.

The novel zsig33 polypeptides of the present invention were initially identified by querying an EST database for sequences possessing a putative secretion signal. A EST sequence was discovered and predicted to be related to the motilin family. The EST sequence was derived from a fetal pancreatic library.

The novel polypeptide encoded by the full length cDNA is 117 amino acids. The predicted signal sequence is 23 amino acid residues (amino acid residues 1 to 23 of SEQ ID NO: 2). The active peptide is predicted to be 18 amino acid residues (amino acid residues 24 to 41 of SEQ ID NO: 2), with a C-terminal cleavage after amino acid residue 41 of SEQ ID NO: 2 (Ser). However, many of the gut-brain peptides require multiple cleavages. For example, progastrin peptide is 101 amino acids, and is cleaved at the N-terminus resulting in sequentially smaller peptides (G34, G17 and G14) (Sugano et al., J. Biol. Chem . 260:11724-11729, 1985). Other peptides that require multiple processing steps include glucagon, for which C-terminal cleavages result in glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucagon-like peptide 2 and galanin, in which processing involves cleavage of a C-terminal peptide known as GMAP. Therefore, an additional cleavage after amino acid 37 of SEQ ID NO: 2 (Gln) results in a 14 amino acid peptide with biological activity.

The C-terminal peptide (amino acid 42 to 117 of SEQ ID NO: 2) may have some specialized activity as well. Processing of the active peptide for motilin (shown in SEQ ID NO: 4) results in a release of a C-terminal peptide of 70 amino acids, amino acid residue 50 (Ser) to amino acid residue 119 (Lys), known as motilin-associated peptide (MAP). Adelman et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,469) have postulated that MAP plays a role in regulation of digestion, appetite and nutrient absorption.

The highly conserved amino acids in the polypeptides zsig33 and motilin can be used as a tool to identify new family members. For instance, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used to amplify sequences encoding the conserved motif from RNA obtained from a variety of tissue sources. Two such conserved domains have been identified using sequences from the present invention. The first domain is found at amino acid residues 31 to 36 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the motif identified is Glu X Gln Arg X Gln (SEQ ID NO: 6), wherein X is any amino acid residue SEQ ID NO: 6, and the second domain is found at amino acid residues 78 to 84 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the motif identified is Ala Pro X Asp X Gly Ile (SEQ ID NO: 7), wherein X is any amino acid residue SEQ ID NO: 7. In particular; highly degenerate primers designed from these sequences are useful for this purpose.

Within preferred embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotides will hybridize to similar sized regions of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a sequence complementary thereto, under stringent conditions. In general, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Typical stringent conditions are those in which the salt concentration is at least about 0.02 M at pH 7 and the temperature is at least about 60° C.

As previously noted, the isolated polynucleotides of the present invention include DNA and RNA. Methods for isolating DNA and RNA are well known in the art. It is generally preferred to isolate RNA from stomach, although DNA can also be prepared using RNA from other tissues or isolated as genomic DNA. Total RNA can be prepared using guanidine HCl extraction followed by isolation by centrifugation in a CsCl gradient (Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry 18:52-94, 1979). Poly (A)⁺ RNA is prepared from total RNA using the method of Aviv and Leder (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69:1408-1412, 1972). Complementary DNA (CDNA) is prepared from poly(A)⁺ RNA using known methods. Polynucleotides encoding zsig33 polypeptides are then identified and isolated by, for example, hybridization or PCR.

The present invention further provides counterpart polypeptides and polynucleotides from other species (orthologs or paralogs). Of particular interest are zsig33 polypeptides from other mammalian species, including murine, rat, porcine, ovine, bovine, canine, feline, equine and other primate proteins. Species homologs of the human proteins can be cloned using information and compositions provided by the present invention in combination with conventional cloning techniques. For example, a CDNA can be cloned using mRNA obtained from a tissue or cell type that expresses the protein. Suitable sources of mRNA can be identified by probing Northern blots with probes designed from the sequences disclosed herein. A library is then prepared from mRNA of a positive tissue of cell line. A zsig33 homolog-encoding CDNA can then be isolated by a variety of methods, such as by probing with a complete or partial human CDNA or with one or more sets of degenerate probes based on the disclosed sequences. A CDNA can also be cloned using the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR (Mullis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202), using primers designed from the sequences disclosed herein. Within an additional method, the CDNA library can be used to transform or transfect host cells, and expression of the CDNA of interest can be detected with an antibody to zsig33 Similar techniques can also be applied to the isolation of genomic clones.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sequences disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1, and polypeptide encoded thereby, represent a single allele of the human zsig33 gene and polypeptide, and that allelic variation and alternative splicing are expected to occur. Allelic variants can be cloned by probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals according to standard procedures. Allelic variants of the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, including those containing silent mutations and those in which mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, are within the scope of the present invention, as are proteins which are the product of allelic variation of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The present invention also provides isolated zsig33 polypeptides that are substantially homologous to the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 2 and their species homologs/orthologs. The term “substantially homologous” is used herein to denote polypeptides having 50%, preferably 60%, more preferably at least 80%, sequence identity to the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or their orthologs or paralogs. Such polypeptides will more preferably be at least 90% identical, and most preferably 95% or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 2 or its orthologs or paralogs. Percent sequence identity is determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., Bull. Math. Bio. 48:603-616, 1986 and Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-10919, 1992. Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to optimize the alignment scores using a gap opening penalty of 10, a gap extension penalty of 1, and the “blosum 62” scoring matrix of Henikoff and Henikoff (ibid.) as shown in Table 1 (amino acids are indicated by the standard one-letter codes). The percent identity is then calculated as:

Total number of identical matches/[length of the longer sequence plus the number of gaps introduced into the longer sequence in order to align the two sequences]×100

TABLE 1 A R N D C Q E G H I L K M F P S T W Y V A 4 R −1 5 N −2 0 6 D −2 −2 1 6 C 0 −3 −3 −3 9 Q −1 1 0 0 −3 5 E −1 0 0 2 −4 2 5 G 0 −2 0 −1 −3 −2 −2 6 H −2 0 1 −1 −3 0 0 −2 8 I −1 −3 −3 −3 −1 −3 −3 −4 −3 4 L −1 −2 −3 −4 −1 −2 −3 −4 −3 2 4 K −1 2 0 −1 −3 1 1 −2 −1 −3 −2 5 M −1 −1 −2 −3 −1 0 −2 −3 −2 1 2 −1 5 F −2 −3 −3 −3 −2 −3 −3 −3 −1 0 0 −3 0 6 P −1 −2 −2 −1 −3 −1 −1 −2 −2 −3 −3 −1 −2 −4 7 S 1 −1 1 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 −2 −2 0 −1 −2 −1 4 T 0 −1 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 −2 −2 −1 −1 −1 −1 −2 −1 1 5 W −3 −3 −4 −4 −2 −2 −3 −2 −2 −3 −2 −3 −1 1 −4 −3 −2 11 Y −2 −2 −2 −3 −2 −1 −2 −3 2 −1 −1 −2 −1 3 −3 −2 −2 2 7 V 0 −3 −3 −3 −1 −2 −2 −3 −3 3 1 −2 1 −1 −2 −2 0 −3 −1 4

Sequence identity of polynucleotide molecules is determined by similar methods using a ratio as disclosed above.

Substantially homologous proteins and polypeptides are characterized as having one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. These changes are preferably of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions (see Table 2) and other substitutions that do not significantly affect the folding or activity of the protein or polypeptide; small deletions, typically of one to about 30 amino acids; and small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue, a small linker peptide of up to about 20-25 residues, or a small extension that facilitates purification (an affinity tag), such as a poly-histidine tract, protein A (Nilsson et al., EMBO J . 4:1075, 1985; Nilsson et al., Methods Enzymol. 198:3, 1991), glutathione S transferase (Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31, 1988), maltose binding protein (Kellerman and Ferenci, Methods Enzymol. 90:459-463, 1982; Guan et al., Gene 67:21-30, 1987), thioredoxin, ubiquitin, cellulose binding protein, T7 polymerase,.or other antigenic epitope or binding domain. See, in general Ford et al., Protein Expression and Purification 2:95-107, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference. DNAs encoding affinity tags are available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.; New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.).

TABLE 2 Conservative amino acid substitutions Basic: arginine lysine histidine Acidic: glutamic acid aspartic acid Polar: glutamine asparagine Hydrophobic: leucine isoleucine valine Aromatic: phenylalanine tryptophan tyrosine Small: glycine alanine serine threonine methionine

In addition to the 20 standard amino acids, non-standard amino acids (such as 4-hydroxyproline, 6-N-methyl lysine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, isovaline and α-methyl serine) may be substituted for amino acid residues of zsig33. A limited number of non-conservative amino acids, amino acids that are not encoded by the genetic code, and unnatural amino acids may be substituted for zsig33 amino acid residues. “Unnatural amino acids” have been modified after protein synthesis, and/or have a chemical structure in their side chain(s) different from that of the standard amino acids. Unnatural amino acids can be chemically synthesized, or preferably, are commercially available, and include pipecolic acid, thiazolidine carboxylic acid, dehydroproline, 3- and 4-methylproline, and 3,3-dimethylproline.

Essential amino acids in the zsig33 polypeptides of the present invention can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244:1081-1085, 1989) In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for biological activity (e.g., stimulation of gastrointestinal cell contractility, modulation of nutrient uptake and/or secretion of digestive enzymes) to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:4699-4708, 1996. Sites of ligand-receptor interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al., Science 255:306-312, 1992; Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904, 1992; Wlodaver et al., FEBS Lett. 309:59-64, 1992. The identities of essential amino acids can also be inferred from analysis of homologies with related members of the glucagon-secretin family of gut-brain peptide hormones.

Multiple amino acid substitutions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis and screening, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer (Science 241:53-57, 1988) or Bowie and Sauer (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2152-2156, 1989). Briefly, these authors disclose methods for simultaneously randomizing two or more positions in a polypeptide, selecting for functional polypeptide, and then sequencing the mutagenized polypeptides to determine the spectrum of allowable substitutions at each position. Other methods that can be used include phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., Biochem. 30:10832-10837, 1991; Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; Huse, WIPO Publication WO 92/06204) and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., Gene 46:145, 1986; Ner et al., DNA 7:127, 1988).

Mutagenesis methods as disclosed above can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides in host cells. Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides (e.g., stimulation of gastrointestinal cell contractility, modulation of nutrient uptake and/or secretion of digestive enzymes) can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using modern equipment. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide of interest, and can be applied to polypeptides of unknown structure.

Using the methods discussed above, one of ordinary skill in the art can identify and/or prepare a variety of polypeptides that are substantially homologous to residues 24 to 37 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or allelic variants thereof and retain properties of the wild-type protein. Such polypeptides may also include additional polypeptide segments as generally disclosed above.

The polypeptides of the present invention, including full-length proteins, fragments thereof and fusion proteins, can be produced in genetically engineered host cells according to conventional techniques. Suitable host cells are those cell types that can be transformed or transfected with exogenous DNA and grown in culture, and include bacteria, fungal cells, and cultured higher eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells, particularly cultured cells of multicellular organisms, are preferred. Techniques for manipulating cloned DNA molecules and introducing exogenous DNA into a variety of host cells are disclosed by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989, and Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., N.Y., 1987, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In general, a DNA sequence encoding a zsig33 polypeptide of the present invention is operably linked to other genetic elements required for its expression, generally including a transcription promoter and terminator within an expression vector. The vector will also commonly contain one or more selectable markers and one or more origins of replication, although those skilled in the art will recognize that within certain systems selectable markers may be provided on separate vectors, and replication of the exogenous DNA may be provided by integration into the host cell genome. Selection of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Many such elements are described in the literature and are available through commercial suppliers.

To direct a zsig33 polypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in the expression vector. The secretory signal sequence may be that of the zsig33 polypeptide, or may be derived from another secreted protein (e.g., t-PA) or synthesized de novo. The secretory signal sequence is joined to the zsig33 DNA sequence in the correct reading frame. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5′ to the DNA sequence encoding the propeptide of interest, although certain signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the DNA sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830).

Cultured mammalian cells are also preferred hosts within the present invention. Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into mammalian host cells include calcium phosphate-mediated transfection (Wigler et al., Cell 14:725, 1978; Corsaro and Pearson, Somatic Cell Genetics 7:603, 1981: Graham and Van der Eb, Virology 52:456, 1973), electroporation (Neumann et al., EMBO J . 1:841-845, 1982), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection (Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., N.Y., 1987), liposome-mediated transfection (Hawley-Nelson et al., Focus 15:73, 1993; Ciccarone et al., Focus 15:80, 1993), and viral vectors (A. Miller and G. Rosman, BioTechnigues 7:980-90, 1989; Q. Wang and M. Finer, Nature Med. 2:714-16, 1996), which are incorporated herein by reference. The production of recombinant polypeptides in cultured mammalian cells is disclosed, for example, by Levinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,339; Hagen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,950; Palmiter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,821; and Ringold, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,134, which are incorporated herein by reference. Preferred cultured mammalian cells include the COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL 1650), COS-7 (ATCC No. CRL 1651), BHK 570 (ATCC No. CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC No. CRL 1573; Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol . 36:59-72, 1977) and Chinese hamster ovary (e.g. CHO-K1; ATCC No. CCL 61) cell lines. Additional suitable cell lines are known in the art and available from public depositories such as the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. In general, strong transcription promoters are preferred, such as promoters from SV-40 or cytomegalovirus. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,288. Other suitable promoters include those from metallothionein genes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,579,821 and 4,601,978, which are incorporated herein by reference) and the adenovirus major late promoter.

Drug selection is generally used to select for cultured mammalian cells into which foreign DNA has been inserted. Such cells are commonly referred to as “transfectants”. Cells that have been cultured in the presence of the selective agent and are able to pass the gene of interest to their progeny are referred to as “stable transfectants.” A preferred selectable marker is a gene encoding resistance to the antibiotic neomycin. Selection is carried out in the presence of a neomycin-type drug, such as G-418 or the like. Selection systems may also be used to increase the expression level of the gene of interest, a process referred to as “amplification.” Amplification is carried out by culturing transfectants in the presence of a low level of the selective agent and then increasing the amount of selective agent to select for cells that produce high levels of the products of the introduced genes. A preferred amplifiable selectable marker is dihydrofolate reductase, which confers resistance to methotrexate. Other drug resistance genes (e.g., hygromycin resistance, multi-drug resistance, puromycin acetyltransferase) can also be used.

Other higher eukaryotic cells can also be used as hosts, including insect cells, plant cells and avian cells. Transformation of insect cells and production of foreign polypeptides therein is disclosed by Guarino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,222; Bang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,624; and WIPO publication WO 94/06463, which are incorporated herein by reference. The use of Agrobacterium rhizogenes as a vector for expressing genes in plant cells has been reviewed by Sinkar et al., J. Biosci. (Bangalore) 11:47-58, 1987.

Fungal cells, including yeast cells, and particularly cells of the genus Saccharomyces, can also be used within the present invention, such as for producing zsig33 fragments or polypeptide fusions. Methods for transforming yeast cells with exogenous DNA and producing recombinant polypeptides therefrom are disclosed by, for example, Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kawasaki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373; Brake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,008; Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; and Murray et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,075, which are incorporated herein by reference. Transformed cells are selected by phenotype determined by the selectable marker, commonly drug resistance or the ability to grow in the absence of a particular nutrient (e.g., leucine). A preferred vector system for use in yeast is the POT1 vector system disclosed by Kawasaki et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373), which allows transformed cells to be selected by growth in glucose-containing media. Suitable promoters and terminators for use in yeast include those from glycolytic enzyme genes (see, e.g., Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kingsman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,974; and Bitter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,092, which are incorporated herein by reference) and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,990,446; 5,063,154; 5,139,936 and 4,661,454, which are incorporated herein by reference. Transformation systems for other yeasts, including Hansenula polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces fragilis, Ustilago maydis, Pichia pastoris, Pichia guillermondii and Candida maltosa are known in the art. See, for example, Gleeson et al., J. Gen. Microbiol . 132:3459-3465, 1986 and Cregg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,279. Aspergillus cells may be utilized according to the methods of McKnight et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,349, which is incorporated herein by reference. Methods for transforming Acremonium chrysogenum are disclosed by Sumino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,228, which is incorporated herein by reference. Methods for transforming Neurospora are disclosed by Lambowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,533, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Transformed or transfected host cells are cultured according to conventional procedures in a culture medium containing nutrients and other components required for the growth of the chosen host cells. A variety of suitable media, including defined media and complex media, are known in the art and generally include a carbon source, a nitrogen source, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Media may also contain such components as growth factors or serum, as required. The growth medium will generally select for cells containing the exogenously added DNA by, for example, drug selection or deficiency in an essential nutrient which is complemented by the selectable marker carried on the expression vector or co-transfected into the host cell.

Expressed recombinant zsig33 polypeptides (or chimeric zsig33 polypeptides) can be purified using fractionation and/or conventional purification methods and media. Ammonium sulfate precipitation and acid or chaotrope extraction may be used for fractionation of samples. Exemplary purification steps may include hydroxyapatite, size exclusion, FPLC and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Suitable anion exchange media include derivatized dextrans, agarose, cellulose, polyacrylamide, specialty silicas, and the like. PEI, DEAE, QAE and Q derivatives are preferred, with DEAE Fast-Flow Sepharose (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) being particularly preferred. Exemplary chromatographic media include those media derivatized with phenyl, butyl, or octyl groups, such as Phenyl-Sepharose FF (Pharmacia), Toyopearl butyl 650 (Toso Haas, Montgomeryville, Pa.), Octyl-Sepharose (Pharmacia) and the like; or polyacrylic resins, such as Amberchrom CG 71 (Toso Haas) and the like. Suitable solid supports include glass beads, silica-based resins, cellulosic resins, agarose beads, cross-linked agarose beads, polystyrene beads, cross-linked polyacrylamide resins and the like that are insoluble under the conditions in which they are to be used. These supports may be modified with reactive groups that allow attachment of proteins by amino groups, carboxyl groups, sulfhydryl groups, hydroxyl groups and/or carbohydrate moieties. Examples of coupling chemistries include cyanogen bromide activation, N-hydroxysuccinimide activation, epoxide activation, sulfhydryl activation, hydrazide activation, and carboxyl and amino derivatives for carbodiimide coupling chemistries. These and other solid media are well known and widely used in the art, and are available from commercial suppliers. Methods for binding receptor polypeptides to support media are well known in the art. Selection of a particular method is a matter of routine design and is determined in part by the properties of the chosen support. See, for example, Affinity Chromatography: Principles & Methods, Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden, 1988.

The polypeptides of the present invention can be isolated by exploitation of small size and low pI. For example, polypeptides of the present invention can be bound to anionic exchanges at low pH values. Other methods of purification include purification of glycosylated proteins by lectin affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography (Methods in Enzymol., Vol. 182, “Guide to Protein Purification”, M. Deutscher, (ed.), Acad. Press, San Diego, 1990, pp.529-39). Alternatively, a fusion of the polypeptide of interest and an affinity tag (e.g., polyhistidine, maltose-binding protein, an immunoglobulin domain) may be constructed to facilitate purification.

To direct the export of a receptor polypeptide from the host cell, the receptor DNA is linked to a second DNA segment encoding a secretory peptide, such as a t-PA secretory peptide or a zsig33 secretory peptide. To facilitate purification of the secreted receptor polypeptide, a C-terminal extension, such as a poly-histidine tag, substance P, Flag™ peptide (Hopp et al., Bio/Technology 6:1204-1210, 1988; available from Eastman Kodak Co., New Haven, Conn.) or another polypeptide or protein for which an antibody or other specific binding agent is available, can be fused to the receptor polypeptide.

Protein refolding (and optionally reoxidation) procedures may be advantageously used. It is preferred to purify the protein to >80% purity, more preferably to >90% purity, even more preferably >95%, and particularly preferred is a pharmaceutically pure state, that is greater than 99.9% pure with respect to contaminating macromolecules, particularly other proteins and nucleic acids, and free of infectious and pyrogenic agents. Preferably, a purified protein is substantially free of other proteins, particularly other proteins of animal origin.

zsig33 polypeptides or fragments thereof may also be prepared through chemical synthesis. zsig33 polypeptides may be monomers or multimers; glycosylated or non-glycosylated; pegylated or non-pegylated; amidated or non-amidated; sulfated or non-sulfated; and may or may not include an initial methionine amino acid residue.

The activity of molecules of the present invention can be measured using a variety of assays that measure stimulation of gastrointestinal cell contractility, modulation of nutrient uptake and/or secretion of digestive enzymes. Of particular interest are changes in contractility of smooth muscle cells. For example, the contractile response of segments of mammalian duodenum or other gastrointestinal smooth muscles tissue (Depoortere et al., J. Gastrointestinal Motility 1:150-159, 1989, incorporated herein by reference). An exemplary in vivo assay uses an ultrasonic micrometer to measure the dimensional changes radially between commissures and longiturdinally to the plane of the valve base (Hansen et al., Society of Thoracic Surgeons 60:S384-390, 1995).

Assays measuring cell proliferation or differentiation are well known in the art. For example, assays measuring proliferation include such assays as chemosensitivity to neutral red dye (Cavanaugh et al., Investigational New Drugs 8:347-354, 1990, incorporated herein by reference), incorporation of radiolabelled nucleotides (Cook et al., Analytical Biochem. 179:1-7, 1989, incorporated herein by reference), incorporation of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the DNA of proliferating cells (Porstmann et al., J. Immunol. Methods 82:169-179, 1985, incorporated herein by reference), and use of tetrazolium salts (Mosmann, J. Immunol. Methods 65:55-63, 1983; Alley et al., Cancer Res. 48:589-601, 1988; Marshall et al., Growth Reg. 5:69-84, 1995; and Scudiero et al., Cancer Res. 48:4827-4833, 1988; all incorporated herein by reference). Assays measuring differentiation include, for example, measuring cell-surface markers associated with stage-specific expression of a tissue, enzymatic activity, functional activity or morphological changes (Watt, FASEB , 5:281-284, 1991; Francis, Differentiation 57:63-75, 1994; Raes, Adv. Anim. Cell Biol. Technol. Bioprocesses, 161-171, 1989; all incorporated herein by reference).

Assays can be used to measure other cellular responses, that include, chemotaxis, adhesion, changes in ion channel influx, regulation of second messenger levels and neurotransmitter release. Such assays are well known in the art. See, for example, in “Basic & Clinical Endocrinology Ser., Vol. Vol. 3, ” Cytochemical Bioassays: Techniques & Applications, Chayen; Chayen, Bitensky, eds., Dekker, N.Y., 1983.

In view of the tissue distribution observed for zsig33, agonists (including the natural ligand/ substrate/cofactor/etc.) and antagonists have enormous potential in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Compounds identified as zsig33 agonists are useful for promoting stimulation of gastrointestinal cell contractility, modulation of nutrient uptake and/or secretion of digestive enzymes in vivo and in vitro. For example, agonist compounds are useful as components of defined cell culture media and regulate the uptake of nutrients, and thus are useful in specifically promoting the growth and/or development of gastrointestinal cells such as G cells, enterochromaffin cells and the epithelial mucosa of the stomach, duodenum, proximal jejunum, antrum and fundus.

The family of gut-brain peptides has been associated with neurological and CNS functions. For example, NPY, a peptide with receptors in both the brain and the gut has been shown to stimulate appetite when administered to the central nervous system (Gehlert, Life Sciences 55 (6): 551-562, 1994). Motilin immunoreactivity has been identified in different regions of the brain, particularly the cerebellum, and in the pituitary (Gasparini et al., Hum. Genetics 94 (6): 671-674, 1994). Motilin has been found to coexist with neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid in cerebellum (Chan-Patay, Proc. Sym . 50th Anniv. Meet. Br. Pharmalog. Soc.: 1-24, 1982). Physiological studies have provided some evidence that motilin has an affect on feeding behavior (Rosenfield et al., Phys. Behav. 39 (6): 735-736, 1987), bladder control, pituitary growth hormone release. Other gut-brain peptides, such as CCK, enkephalin, VIP and secretin have been shown to be involved in control of blood pressure, heart rate, behavior, and pain modulation, in addition to be active in the digestive system.

Using site-specific changes in the amino acid and DNA sequences of the present invention analogs can be made that are either antagonists, agonists or partial agonists (Maciclas et al., Peptides: Chem. Struct. Biol. pp.659, 1996). Antagonists are useful for clinical conditions associated with gastrointestinal hypermotility such as diarrhea and Crohn's disease. Antagonists are also useful as research reagents for characterizing sites of ligand-receptor interaction.

A zsig33 ligand-binding polypeptide can also be used for purification of ligand. The polypeptide is immobilized on a solid support, such as beads of agarose, cross-linked agarose, glass, cellulosic resins, silica-based resins, polystyrene, cross-linked polyacrylamide, or like materials that are stable under the conditions of use. Methods for linking polypeptides to solid supports are known in the art, and include amine chemistry, cyanogen bromide activation, N-hydroxysuccinimide activation, epoxide activation, sulfhydryl activation, and hydrazide activation. The resulting medium will generally be configured in the form of a column, and fluids containing ligand are passed through the column one or more times to allow ligand to bind to the receptor polypeptide. The ligand is then eluted using changes in salt concentration, chaotropic agents (guanidine HCl), or pH to disrupt ligand-receptor binding.

An assay system that uses a ligand-binding receptor (or an antibody, one member of a complement/anti-complement pair) or a binding fragment thereof, and a commercially available biosensor instrument (BIAcore™, Pharmacia Biosensor, Piscataway, N.J.) may be advantageously employed. Such receptor, antibody, member of a complement/anti-complement pair or fragment is immobilized onto the surface of a receptor chip. Use of this instrument is disclosed by Karlsson, J. Immunol. Methods 145:229-40, 1991 and Cunningham and Wells, J. Mol. Biol . 234:554-63, 1993. A receptor, antibody, member or fragment is covalently attached, using amine or sulfhydryl chemistry, to dextran fibers that are attached to gold film within the flow cell. A test sample is passed through the cell. If a ligand, epitope, or opposite member of the complement/anti-complement pair is present in the sample, it will bind to the immobilized receptor, antibody or member, respectively, causing a change in the refractive index of the medium, which is detected as a change in surface plasmon resonance of the gold film. This system allows the determination of on- and off-rates, from which binding affinity can be calculated, and assessment of stoichiometry of binding.

Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used within other assay systems known in the art. Such systems include Scatchard analysis for determination of binding affinity (see Scatchard, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 51: 660-72, 1949) and calorimetric assays (Cunningham et al., Science 253:545-48, 1991; Cunningham et al., Science 245:821-25, 1991).

zsig33 polypeptides can also be used to prepare antibodies that specifically bind to zsig33 epitopes, peptides or polypeptides. Methods for preparing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are well known in the art (see, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989; and Hurrell, J. G. R., Ed., Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies: Techniques and Applications, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., 1982, which are incorporated herein by reference). As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, polyclonal antibodies can be generated from a variety of warm-blooded animals, such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, dogs, chickens, rabbits, mice, and rats.

The immunogenicity of a zsig33 polypeptide may be increased through the use of an adjuvant, such as alum (aluminum hydroxide) or Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. Polypeptides useful for immunization also include fusion polypeptides, such as fusions of zsig33 or a portion thereof with an immunoglobulin polypeptide or with maltose binding protein. The polypeptide immunogen may be a full-length molecule or a portion thereof. If the polypeptide portion is “hapten-like”, such portion may be advantageously joined or linked to a macromolecular carrier (such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin .(BSA) or tetanus toxoid) for immunization.

As used herein, the term “antibodies” includes polyclonal antibodies, affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments, such as F(ab′)₂ and Fab proteolytic fragments. Genetically engineered intact antibodies or fragments, such as chimeric antibodies, Fv fragments, single chain antibodies and the like, as well as synthetic antigen-binding peptides and polypeptides, are also included. Non-human antibodies may be humanized by grafting only non-human CDRs onto human framework and constant regions, or by incorporating the entire non-human variable domains (optionally “cloaking” them with a human-like surface by replacement of exposed residues, wherein the result is a “veneered” antibody). In some instances, humanized antibodies may retain non-human residues within the human variable region framework domains to enhance proper binding characteristics. Through humanizing antibodies, biological half-life may be increased, and the potential for adverse immune reactions upon administration to humans is reduced. Alternative techniques for generating or selecting antibodies useful herein include in vitro exposure of lymphocytes to zsig33 protein or peptide, and selection of antibody display libraries in phage or similar vectors (for instance, through use of immobilized or labeled zsig33 protein or peptide).

Antibodies are defined to be specifically binding if they bind to a zsig33 polypeptide with a binding affinity (K_(a)) of 10⁶ M⁻¹ or greater, preferably 10⁷ M⁻¹ or greater, more preferably 10⁸ M⁻¹ or greater, and most preferably 10⁹ M⁻¹ or greater. The binding affinity of an antibody can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art (for example, by Scatchard analysis).

A variety of assays known to those skilled in the art can be utilized to detect antibodies which specifically bind to zsig33 proteins or peptides. Exemplary assays are described in detail in Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (Eds.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988. Representative examples of such assays include: concurrent immunoelectrophoresis, radioimmunoassay, radioimmuno-precipitation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot blot or Western blot assay, inhibition or competition assay, and sandwich assay. In addition, antibodies can be screened for binding to wild-type versus mutant zsig33 protein or peptide.

Antibodies to zsig33 may be used for tagging cells that express zsig33 for isolating zsig33 by affinity purification; for diagnostic assays for determining circulating levels of zsig33 polypeptides; for detecting or quantitating soluble zsig33 as marker of underlying pathology or disease; in analytical methods employing FACS; for screening expression libraries; for generating anti-idiotypic antibodies; and as neutralizing antibodies or as antagonists to block zsig33 activity in vitro and in vivo. Suitable direct tags or labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent markers, chemiluminescent markers, magnetic particles and the like; indirect tags or labels may feature use of biotin-avidin or other complement/anti-complement pairs as intermediates. Antibodies herein may also be directly or indirectly conjugated to drugs, toxins, radionuclides and the like, and these conjugates used for in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

Molecules of the present invention can be used to identify and isolate receptors that mediate the function of zsig33. For example, proteins and peptides of the present invention can be immobilized on a column and membrane preparations run over the column (Immobilized Affinity Ligand Techniques, Hermanson et al., eds., Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1992, pp.195-202). Proteins and peptides can also be radiolabeled (Methods in Enzymol., vol. 182, “Guide to Protein Purification”, M. Deutscher, ed., Acad. Press, San Diego, 1990, 721-737) or photoaffinity labeled (Brunner et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem . 62:483-514, 1993 and Fedan et al., Biochem. Pharmacol . 33:1167-1180, 1984) and specific cell-surface proteins can be identified.

The polypeptides, nucleic acid and/or antibodies of the present invention may be used in treatment of disorders associated with gastrointestinal cell contractility, secretion of digestive enzymes gastrointestinal motility, recruitment of digestive enzymes; inflammation, particularly as it affects the gastrointestinal system; and regulation of nutrient absorption. Specific conditions that will benefit from treatment with molecules of the present invention include, but are not limited to, diabetic gastroparesis, post-surgical gastroparesis, vagotomy, chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Additional uses include, gastric emptying for radiological studies, stimulating gallbladder contraction and antrectomy.

The motor and neurological affects of molecules of the present invention make it useful for treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders where neurological feedback modulates nutritional absorption. The molecules of the present invention are useful for regulating satiety, glucose absorption and metabolism, and neuropathy-associated gastrointestinal disorders.

Molecules of the present invention are also useful as additives to anti-hypoglycemic preparations containing glucose and as adsorption enhancers for oral drugs which require fast nutrient action. Additionally, molecules of the present invention can be used to stimulate glucose-induced insulin release.

For pharmaceutical use, the proteins of the present invention are formulated for parenteral, nasal inhalation, particularly intravenous or subcutaneous, delivery according to conventional methods. Intravenous administration will be by bolus injection or infusion over a typical period of one to several hours. In general, pharmaceutical formulations will include a zsig33 protein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, such as saline, buffered saline, 5% dextrose in water or the like. Formulations may further include one or more excipients, preservatives, solubilizers, buffering agents, albumin to prevent protein loss on vial surfaces, etc. Methods of formulation are well known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton Pa., 1990, which is incorporated herein by reference. Therapeutic doses will generally be in the range of 0.1 to 100 μg/kg of patient weight per day, preferably 0.5-20 μg/kg per day, with the exact dose determined by the clinician according to accepted standards, taking into account the nature and severity of the condition to be treated, patient traits, etc. Determination of dose is within the level of ordinary skill in the art. The proteins may be administered for acute treatment, over one week or less, often over a period of one to three days or may be used in chronic treatment, over several months or years. For example, a therapeutically effective amount of zsig33 is an amount sufficient to produce a clinically significant change in gastric motility and parameters used to measure changes in nutritional absorption. Specific tests for making such measurements are known to these ordinarily skilled in the art.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Scanning of a cDNA database for cDNAs containing a secretion sequence revealed an expressed sequence tag (EST) that has homology to motilin. The cDNA is from a human fetal pancreatic cDNA library.

Confirmation of the EST sequence was made by sequence analyses of the cDNA (Incyte No. 1851527, Incyte Inc. Palo Alto, Calif.) from which the EST originated. This cDNA was contained in a plasmid designated pINCY (Incyte), and was excised using Eco RI and Not I cloning sites. The analyses revealed that the cDNA encompassed the entire coding region of the DNA encoding zsig33.

Example 2

Northerns were performed using Human Multiple Tissue Blots and Human RNA Master dot blots from Clontech (Palo Alto, Calif.). The probe was approximately 40 bp oligonucleotide ZC12, 494 (SEQ ID NO: 5). The probe was end labeled using T4 Polynucleotide Kinase (Life Technologies, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) and T4 Polynucleotide Kinase Forward Buffer (Life Technologies, Inc.). The probe was purified using a NUCTRAP push columns (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). EXPRESSHYB (Clontech) solution was used for prehybridization and as a hybridizing solution for the Northern blots. Hybridization took place at 42° C., and the blots were washed in 2×SSC and 0.05% SDS at RT, followed by a wash in 1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 71° C. A approximately 600 bp transcript was observed as a strong signal in stomach, with weaker signals seen in pancreas and small intestine.

Example 3

Two male Sprague-Dawley rats, approximately 12 weeks old (Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind.) were anesthetized with urethane and their stomachs were exposed through a small abdominal incision. Two 2.4 mm transducing crystals (Sonometrics, Ontario, Canada) were placed on the antral portion of the stomach such that circular contractions could be monitored as a change in the distance between the two crystals. The crystals were attached with VETBOND TISSUE ADHESIVE (3M, St. Paul, Minn.).

10 μl of 1 μM acetylcholine was applied topically to the stomach between the two crystals, and resulted in a rapid, but transient increase in the distance between two crystals. 10 μl of norepinephrine (NE) at 1 μM caused a reduction in the distance between the two crystals. The amplitude of the NE-induced decrease was approximately 50% of the acetylcholine-induced increase in distance. Both responses were transient.

A negative control of 10 μl of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) applied topically between the crystals had no effect.

A 14 amino acid zsig33 peptide (from amino acid residue 24 (Gly) to amino acid residue 37 (Gln) of SEQ ID NO: 2) was dissolved in PBS) and 10 μl was applied topically for a final concentration of 1 μg, 10 μg or 100 μg. The zsig33 at 1 μg induced a sustained, rhythmic increase and decrease in crystal distance. This effect appeared to be dose-dependent, with enhanced responses in both rate and amplitude when of the contractions 10 μg and 100 μg were tested.

Example 4

Eight female ob/ob mice, approximately 6 weeks 10 old (Jackson Labs, Bar Harbor, Me.) were adapted to a 4 hour daily feeding schedule for two weeks. After two weeks on the feeding schedule, the mice were give 100 μg of a 14 amino acid amino zsig33 peptide (from amino acid residue 24 (Gly) to amino acid residue 37 (Gln) of SEQ ID NO: 2) in 100 μl sterile 0.1% BSA by oral gavage, immediately after their eating period (post-prandially). Thirty minutes later, the mice were challenged orally with a 0.5 ml volume of 25% glucose. Retroorbital bleeds were done to determine serum glucose levels. Blood was drawn prior to zsig33 dosing, prior to oral glucose challenge, and at 1, 2, 4, and 20 hours following the glucose challenge.

When zsig33 peptide was given orally at 100 μg, 30 minutes prior to an oral glucose challenge, an enhanced post-prandial glucose absorption was seen.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

7 351 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA Coding Sequence 1...351 (A) NAME/KEY sig_peptide (B) LOCATION 1...69 (D) OTHER INFORMATION (A) NAME/KEY mat_peptide (B) LOCATION 70...351 (D) OTHER INFORMATION 1 ATG CCC TCC CCA GGG ACC GTC TGC AGC CTC CTG CTC CTC GGC ATG CTC 48 Met Pro Ser Pro Gly Thr Val Cys Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Met Leu 1 5 10 15 TGG CTG GAC TTG GCC ATG GCA GGC TCC AGC TTC CTG AGC CCT GAA CAC 96 Trp Leu Asp Leu Ala Met Ala Gly Ser Ser Phe Leu Ser Pro Glu His 20 25 30 CAG AGA GTC CAG CAG AGA AAG GAG TCG AAG AAG CCA CCA GCC AAG CTG 144 Gln Arg Val Gln Gln Arg Lys Glu Ser Lys Lys Pro Pro Ala Lys Leu 35 40 45 CAG CCC CGA GCT CTA GCA GGC TGG CTC CGC CCG GAA GAT GGA GGT CAA 192 Gln Pro Arg Ala Leu Ala Gly Trp Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Gly Gly Gln 50 55 60 GCA GAA GGG GCA GAG GAT GAA CTG GAA GTC CGG TTC AAC GCC CCC TTT 240 Ala Glu Gly Ala Glu Asp Glu Leu Glu Val Arg Phe Asn Ala Pro Phe 65 70 75 80 GAT GTT GGA ATC AAG CTG TCA GGG GTT CAG TAC CAG CAG CAC AGC CAG 288 Asp Val Gly Ile Lys Leu Ser Gly Val Gln Tyr Gln Gln His Ser Gln 85 90 95 GCC CTG GGG AAG TTT CTT CAG GAC ATC CTC TGG GAA GAG GCC AAA GAG 336 Ala Leu Gly Lys Phe Leu Gln Asp Ile Leu Trp Glu Glu Ala Lys Glu 100 105 110 GCC CCA GCC GAC AAG 351 Ala Pro Ala Asp Lys 115 117 amino acids amino acid single linear protein internal 2 Met Pro Ser Pro Gly Thr Val Cys Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Met Leu 1 5 10 15 Trp Leu Asp Leu Ala Met Ala Gly Ser Ser Phe Leu Ser Pro Glu His 20 25 30 Gln Arg Val Gln Gln Arg Lys Glu Ser Lys Lys Pro Pro Ala Lys Leu 35 40 45 Gln Pro Arg Ala Leu Ala Gly Trp Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Gly Gly Gln 50 55 60 Ala Glu Gly Ala Glu Asp Glu Leu Glu Val Arg Phe Asn Ala Pro Phe 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Gly Ile Lys Leu Ser Gly Val Gln Tyr Gln Gln His Ser Gln 85 90 95 Ala Leu Gly Lys Phe Leu Gln Asp Ile Leu Trp Glu Glu Ala Lys Glu 100 105 110 Ala Pro Ala Asp Lys 115 546 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA Coding Sequence 40...396 3 GGGCAGAGAC ACACACGCGC CCAGTTGTCC AGCTCCAGG ATG GTG TCC CGC AAG 54 Met Val Ser Arg Lys 1 5 GCT GTG GTC GTC CTG CTG GTG GTG CAC GCA GCT GCC ATG CTG GCC TCC 102 Ala Val Val Val Leu Leu Val Val His Ala Ala Ala Met Leu Ala Ser 10 15 20 CAC ACG GAA GCC TTT GTT CCC AGC TTT ACC TAC GGG GAA CTT CAG AGG 150 His Thr Glu Ala Phe Val Pro Ser Phe Thr Tyr Gly Glu Leu Gln Arg 25 30 35 ATG CAG GAA AAG GAG CGG AAT AAA GGG CAA AAG AAA TCC CTG AGT GTC 198 Met Gln Glu Lys Glu Arg Asn Lys Gly Gln Lys Lys Ser Leu Ser Val 40 45 50 CAG CAG GCG TCG GAG GAG CTC GGC CCT CTG GAC CCC TCG GAG CCC ACG 246 Gln Gln Ala Ser Glu Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Asp Pro Ser Glu Pro Thr 55 60 65 AAG GAA GAA GAA AGG GTG GTT ATC AAG CTG CTC GCG CCT GTG GAC ATT 294 Lys Glu Glu Glu Arg Val Val Ile Lys Leu Leu Ala Pro Val Asp Ile 70 75 80 85 GGA ATC AGG ATG GAC TCC AGG CAG CTG GAA AAG TAC CGG GCC ACC CTG 342 Gly Ile Arg Met Asp Ser Arg Gln Leu Glu Lys Tyr Arg Ala Thr Leu 90 95 100 GAA AGG CTG CTG GGC CAG GCG CCG CAG TCC ACC CAG AAC CAG AAT GCC 390 Glu Arg Leu Leu Gly Gln Ala Pro Gln Ser Thr Gln Asn Gln Asn Ala 105 110 115 GCC AAG TAACAGGCCG CTGGGGGAGA AGGAGGACAC AGCTCGGACC CCCCTCCCAC GC 448 Ala Lys AGGGAGGGCC TAGAAATCCG CTGGGCTTGG AAGGAAAACA CCCTCTCCCA AACAGCCCTC 508 AGCCCCCCTC CCCCAGCAAA TAAAGCGTGG AAATAGGC 546 119 amino acids amino acid single linear protein internal 4 Met Val Ser Arg Lys Ala Val Val Val Leu Leu Val Val His Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Met Leu Ala Ser His Thr Glu Ala Phe Val Pro Ser Phe Thr Tyr 20 25 30 Gly Glu Leu Gln Arg Met Gln Glu Lys Glu Arg Asn Lys Gly Gln Lys 35 40 45 Lys Ser Leu Ser Val Gln Gln Ala Ser Glu Glu Leu Gly Pro Leu Asp 50 55 60 Pro Ser Glu Pro Thr Lys Glu Glu Glu Arg Val Val Ile Lys Leu Leu 65 70 75 80 Ala Pro Val Asp Ile Gly Ile Arg Met Asp Ser Arg Gln Leu Glu Lys 85 90 95 Tyr Arg Ala Thr Leu Glu Arg Leu Leu Gly Gln Ala Pro Gln Ser Thr 100 105 110 Gln Asn Gln Asn Ala Ala Lys 115 40 base pairs nucleic acid single linear Other ZC12494 5 TTCTTCGACT CCTTTCTCTG CTGGACTCTC TGGTGTTCAG 40 6 amino acids amino acid single linear None 6 Glu Xaa Gln Arg Xaa Gln 1 5 7 amino acids amino acid single linear None 7 Ala Pro Xaa Asp Xaa Gly Ile 1 5 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated polypeptide molecule consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 from residue 24 to residue
 37. 2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated polypeptide molecule, according to claim 1, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
 3. An isolated polypeptide molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide molecule consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 from residue 1 to residue 37; and (b) a polypeptide molecule consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 from residue 1 to residue
 41. 4. An isolated polypeptide molecule consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from residue 42 to residue
 117. 5. An isolated polypeptide molecule comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from residue 24 to residue
 117. 6. The isolated polypeptide molecule according to claim 5 wherein the polypeptide molecule comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from residue 1 to residue
 117. 7. An isolated polypeptide molecule consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from residue 24 to residue
 41. 